I created a DVD for a high school graduation and am planning to sell it to the graduate's families. Now, I worked pretty hard on that dvd (editing in premiere, lots of headaches) and I know if I sell it to one person, that guy is gonna just copy it and give it to friends. How do I add copy protection to the DVD? I know they could just use DVD X Copy or something along those lines but...I can at least make it a challenge :). So....any ideas?

Not trying to be funny here mate. but don't you think film producers would be using it on their own dvd's if there was some anti copy protection out there.;)

And they are aren't they? Just because so many programs can get past it don't mean it's not there.... I know there are ways to make it so it is hard to just hit play on your dvd and record on your VHS and copying it over. It makes the video go black every couple of minutes. I am pretty sure it's called Macrovision. I just wanna know how I could add it to my own dvd.

License it from Macrovision, also use an authoring drive that way you can create encrypted copies. However the results will still be just as easy to copy as an original.

Just make people preorder.

Thank you celtic_druid, by the way..what's an authoring drive lol (sorry if I sound stupid)...i have a Sony DRU-500.

Then you don't have an authoring drive.

Originally posted by wasabi
And they are aren't they? Just because so many programs can get past it don't mean it's not there....

Of course it's there, but i meant if there was a sure fire way to stop people making copies then they would use it. macrovision is easy to bypass too so that wouldn't be much use. anyone who has ever copied a dvd to tape would have a lead to bypass it or a pre macrovision vcr.

As for what is an authoring drive..I hope you are rich..
http://www.cyperceptions.com/Store/author/dvrs201.asp

Holy shite! I guess doing it with my Sony is out......thanks for replying guys ! Too bad I won't be using copy protection anytime soon ;).

Just lie and tell them it is protected, and if they need additional copies, you'll be glad to make them. :) WTF, can't hurt to try........

Tell them that you give every copy u produce its own ID number and if any copys are made you will be able to check which persons copy it came from , or if u got the files on the hardrive etc just use ure authoring software and make each copy a personell one to them , that way who would want to copy someone elses if it had the others name etc on it

Originally posted by REDBULL
who would want to copy someone elses if it had the others name etc on it

I would :D I have quite a few made for the Warner Brothers :D :D :D

You could put your name on the bottom of the screen all the way through.....

I think you should be more concerned with marketing it first, cause it took me a long time to get enough people to buy to make it worth it.

I think the best solution is to have people order the DVD ahead of time...and now...not to be a smart *** or anything...but...why are you trying to stop people from doing exactly what all of us have been doing to professionally made DVD's? I know you stated that you put a lot of hard work into your production...but the big studios put more hard work into their products and we all rip them off! If we didn't rip them off this very forum would probly not exist! It's a ***** to be on the other side now isn't it? I know this isn't what you wanted to hear but think of how much you've gotten for free from the big studios...maybe this is just payback. Best of luck though!

If we didn't rip them off this very forum would probly not exist

I beg to differ. People here are only making backups, although it doesn't sound like you are... Perhaps I should suspend or ban you?

Another small point, most movies have already made a profit before the first DVD is even pressed. Well accept for any recent Van Damm movies.

I wondered if you wrote an hour of blank black video to it & then etched a scratch into that part of it which the black is written to, if it would then not be able to copy it?